OBX Seafood Fest, a Dune Buggy Bash and More Hauntings!

By Michael Lay | Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Taste the local catch at the Outer Banks Seafood Festival.

Last year's first ever Outer Banks Seafood Festival was such an over-the-top success that the event organizers and participating restaurants and vendors have cooked up an even bigger and better Round Two set for this weekend. This year The Dunes Restaurant in Nags Head kicks off the festival on Friday at 6:30 p.m. with Dock & Dine, a festival pre-party featuring delicious steamed and fried seafood, chowders and soups, sushi, landlubber favorites, breads and decadent desserts. Non-alcoholic beverages, beer and wine will be available (proper ID required) and live entertainment will be provided by The Crowd, one of the Outer Banks' most popular bands. Dock & Dine tickets are $50/adults, $15/youth (ages4-12), with children younger than 3 admitted free. Tables of eight can also be booked for $750 (which includes eight tickets to the seafood festival, Dock & Dine logo keepsakes of crab crackers, wine tumblers and logo galvanized buckets of beer (2 per table).

On Saturday the main event, the 2nd Annual Outer Banks Seafood Festival, begins at 11 a.m. at the Outer Banks Event Site at 6800 Croatan Hwy. in Nags Head. As many as 20 of the Outer Banks' best restaurants will attend this year's event serving "fusion-style" samplings of signature dishes featuring locally caught seafood. All this culinary goodness will combine with a bit of education and storytelling about the region's fishing heritage, cooking demonstrations, crafts and entertainment to create a full day of family-friendly fun. General admission tickets are $3. Sea Bucks, the official currency of the festival, must be purchased to sample foods and beverages. Sea Bucks, which may also be used for festival merchandise, are available online and on site and can be purchased in the following amounts: $20, $40, $60, $80, and $100. See the website for more information.

Good Works Golf, Parent Time, Dune Buggies and More!

Now in its 20th year of raising money for local charities, the 2013 Kelly Hospitality Group Golf Tournament will hit the greens Monday October 21 at Nags Head Golf Links. One hundred percent of the tournament proceeds go to the Outer Banks Community Foundation and, to date, the event has raised more than $320,000 for charity. Sign up to golf, be a sponsor or both. Following play all golfers and sponsors are invited to the 20th Hole Celebration at Pamlico Jack's for a buffet dinner with open bar. For more information visit the event website.

For more than 30 years regional Lions Clubs (First Flight, Nags Head, Manteo, Wanchese, Columbia, Currituck, Lower Currituck and Plymouth) have sponsored the North Carolina Lions' VIP (Visually Impaired Persons) Fishing Tournament. Held each October, the tournament is the largest gathering of visually impaired people in North Carolina, attracting more than 500 participants ages 12 and older every year. This year's tournament takes place Tuesday, October 22 and Wednesday, October 23 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of being a parent is trying to carve out some personal time. The Outer Banks YMCA has stepped up to help member parents with its Parents Morning Out program held this Friday, October 18 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (and again October 25 at the same time). YMCA Child Care staff will engage children 1 to 5 years of age in fun activities, including arts and crafts, story time, free play, basic early learning skills such as shapes, colors and counting and enhanced socialization skills. While the kids play, take advantage of three blessed hours of "Me Time" to pamper yourself, run those errands, finish a magazine article or two or just be alone with your own thoughts! Pre-registration is required and the price is $10/child.

Any kid who ever loved Hot Wheels (whatever that kid's current age) will not want to miss the Manx on the Banx 2013 "Show 'N' Shine" All-Dune Buggy Car Show this Saturday, October 19 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at Pirates Quay Shoppes in Nags Head! This is your chance to meet living legend Bruce Meyers, the "father of the dune buggy," who will be on hand with his newly designed Manx Kick-Out SS. Sponsored by the Manx Club, the show will display the most fiberglass dune buggies ever assembled on the East Coast!

Backyard Boot Camp

Here's the perfect opportunity to begin collecting ideas and know-how for the next growing season. The Elizabethan Gardens' Southern Backyard Boot Camp, held Tuesday, October 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as part of the Wings Over Water celebration, begins with a class on transforming your yard into a bird haven. Noted area birdwatcher and Gardens' nursery manager, Jeff Lewis, will share tips including bird-friendly plants, water features and bird houses. Following this first session, participants will break for a Southern lunch and then enjoy dessert of mint cookies and ice cream while learning more about mint, one of the South's favorite herbs, and pot a mint plant to take home! After lunch local green thumb legend Quentin Bell will demonstrate the proper techniques for successful plant propagation. Cuttings, soil and containers will be provided for participants' use. Pre-registration is required and the $60 fee includes lunch. For more information visit the Wings Over Water website or call (252) 216-9464.

The Haunts Keep Coming!

This spookfest is not for the faint at heart! In fact, the Station Keepers' Haunted Sanatorium just across the Wright Brothers Bridge at OBX Vacation Station in Harbinger is not recommended for children younger than 10. But if you're the fearless type you can get your dose of thrills and chills Friday, October 18 or Saturday, October 19 from 7 to 10 p.m. each night. Tickets are $5/adults and $2/children. Proceeds from this event benefit Relay for Life.

Outer Banks Jubilee joins in Halloween's gruesome fun with its Ripped from the Silver Screen haunted attraction running nightly at 7 p.m. from Monday, October 21 through Halloween at the Jubilee theater in Kitty Hawk. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online or at the door.

Mark Your Calendars

In hard times anything deemed non-essential to the daily economic struggle, such as dental care, is often set aside for later attention. But on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26 the 5th Annual Missions of Mercy Dental Clinic returns to the Outer Banks to provide much needed dental care to adults earning less than 200% of federal poverty level guidelines. Since 2009, the Dare County clinics have served a total of 2,833 patients and provided dental services valued at nearly $1,500,000! Treatment provided includes cleanings, fillings and extractions. The clinic will be held at Dare County Youth Center & Family Recreation Park in Kill Devil Hills. Registration will begin at 6 a.m. and record numbers are expected, so arrive as early as possible. Patients will be seen on a first come, first served basis based on dental procedure. For more information or to volunteer, please call (252) 475-5635.

The ever-popular culinary celebration, Outer Banks Restaurant Week, returns Friday, October 25 to kick off seven days of dining delights.

Also on tap next weekend is Blackbeard's Pirate Jamboree, a pirate fest for all ages held annually on beautiful Ocracoke Island. For more information call (252) 928-3421, email {encode="info@blackbeardslodge.com" title="info@blackbeardslodge.com"} or visit the event website.

Outer Banks This Week Giveaway



This week you have a chance to win a two-night stay at the Outer Banks Inn & a $50 gift certificate to Hurricane Mo's!

For more information about Outer Banks Inn, check out their website.

For more information about Hurricane Mo's, check them out on nagsheadguide.com.


Last Week's Winner

Congratulations to Bobby Turner!!!

You won a $35 gift certificate to Kinnakeet Clay & a $35 gift certificate to Gidget's Pizza & Pasta!

Outer Banks This Week Giveaway Winner











For more information about Kinnakeet Clay, check out their website.

For more information about Gidget's Pizza & Pasta, check out their website.

About the Author Michael Lay
Michael Lay is a local graphic designer, artist, photographer and writer. He lives in picturesque downtown Manteo, NC, and is the manservant of two beautiful and willful feline princesses, Sophie and Sassy. You can contact Michael at mike.lay@oneboat.com.